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The World Outside My Window
Laura is watching the world go by without her. Unable to leave her house since suffering a trauma, Laura is stuck gazing out of her window at Willow Crescent, relying on husband Jim and best friend Debbie for help. Then one day, Jim doesn’t come home. A day becomes two, days become a week, and still no sign of Jim. ;And with the police half-hearted in their efforts to look for him, Laura is forced into a decision. ;She’s going to have to face the world outside and find her husband herself. But what Laura hasn’t realised is that Willow Crescent is a community, eager to help. From Arthur and Carol next door ready to rally the neighbours, to Marjorie and her daughter Faye at number nine looking for their own reasons to engage with the world. From Sonja at number seven who thinks she may have seen Jim in London, to widower Ben at number four who understands all about being lonely. Laura has a world ready to embrace her if she can just find the nerve. And when it slowly dawns on them all, that the Jim they thought they knew, may have been hiding some unfathomable secrets, Laura has a choice – retreat back behind her window, or start living the life that was waiting for her all along.
This is Clare Swatman's tour de force. At the same time emotional, uplifting, page-turning and breath-taking, Laura is a character you will never forget.
This is Clare Swatman's tour de force. At the same time emotional, uplifting, page-turning and breath-taking, Laura is a character you will never forget.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2023
874 people are currently reading
1053 people want to read
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June 5, 2023
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This is my fourth book by this author and she never disappoints. I highly recommend How To Save A Life. Every book by this author has been a four or five star read. The World Outside My Window continues to prove that Swatman is a favourite author of mine, she has a special way of making ordinary life into extraordinary stories. The characters always manage to capture my heart and make me emotional. I always want to cheer them on and wish the best for them. They are not without their flaws but they learn and grow. They show resilience and manage to find ways to overcome their obstacles realistically.
Swatman's plots always have important issues, ones that the character usually has to overcome and the author always manages to do this in a sensitive manner. The side characters don't have minor roles, we get their background and learn their personalities as well. I liked the way the book ended positively with Laura looking to the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
This is my fourth book by this author and she never disappoints. I highly recommend How To Save A Life. Every book by this author has been a four or five star read. The World Outside My Window continues to prove that Swatman is a favourite author of mine, she has a special way of making ordinary life into extraordinary stories. The characters always manage to capture my heart and make me emotional. I always want to cheer them on and wish the best for them. They are not without their flaws but they learn and grow. They show resilience and manage to find ways to overcome their obstacles realistically.
Swatman's plots always have important issues, ones that the character usually has to overcome and the author always manages to do this in a sensitive manner. The side characters don't have minor roles, we get their background and learn their personalities as well. I liked the way the book ended positively with Laura looking to the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
June 12, 2023
In a Nutshell: Has some merits but needs to be read without overanalysing. Some interesting characters. No surprises along the way. Alcoholic protagonist… sigh.
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
🌷 Laura turns agoraphobic after an attack in a dark street at night. The impact of the trauma and the fear of going out is written well. Her steps towards overcoming her phobia when she is worried about Jim, while a bit unrealistic for how quickly she could overcome her extreme phobia, still make her vulnerability clear.
🌷 Laura’s neighbourhood of Willow Crest has some interesting characters. Carol – a busybody with a heart of gold and her long-suffering husband Arthur were my favourite of these. (I am sure Ben also would be a favourite with many, but I found him too perfect to be believable.) Laura’s friend Debbie is also a great character, and their friendship was sweet, though it was clear that Laura was the taker and Debbie, the giver in their lopsided relationship.
🌷 The use of first person for Laura’s past and third person for the present timeline was an interesting writing choice. While this could have gone either way, I liked how the change in voice indicated the timeline instantly.
🌷 A good point raised in the plot was how emotions can manipulate us into mistaking control for love or gaslighting for guidance.
🌷 There are some thought-provoking lines.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 To my utter sadness, the blurb doesn’t indicate Laura’s alcohol addiction at all. I strongly dislike this trope, even though it didn’t lead to an unreliable narrator this time around. (The amount spent on alcohol consumption in this book would have fuelled the economy of a small town for a month!)
🌵 The “big secret” behind the disappearance is guessable the instant the first clue is revealed. So it was annoying to see how long everyone else took to guess the reason when the situation was so obvious. If you read this for some “mystery” feels, you will be disappointed.
🌵 There are so many silly things in the plot, I don’t know where to begin:
🌵 While a part of me empathised with Laura, I still struggled to connect with her character due to the illogical decisions she takes time and again, and her gullibility in not questioning Jim’s behaviour even once. Part of it could be attributed to being an aftermath of the attack, but that just accounts for the past eighteen months. There was no reason for her to be so naïve prior to that, especially as she had been living independently since age eighteen. (Laura is thirty-three during the main events, not exactly a babe in the woods.)
🌵 There is a whole load of info-dumping at the end.
🌵 Except for the mention of the years and the lack of the obvious technological advancements such as the internet and smartphones, there was nothing in the plot that made me feel like it was set thirty years ago. The years were just a convenient way of circumambulating around the internet factor, which would have made it easier to locate the MiA husband.
🚩Spoiler below:
This story could have been tremendous with such a strong premise, but the implementation was just disappointing.
I had first read this author’s “How to Save a Life” (now republished as “The Night We First Met”) last June and was blown away by how well she sketched characters. But the two books I have tried since have been just about okay. I might still read her works in future, but I will definitely not go out of my way to get to them.
Not a must-read as far as I am concerned. But mine is an outlier review, so do check out the other reviews before you take a call. If you can read with your heart and ignore the sirens in your head, do give this a try.
2 stars.
My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The World Outside My Window”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
———————————————
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Story Synopsis:
1992. After she was attacked in a London street a year and a half ago, Laura has turned into an agoraphobe, spending her entire time inside the walls of her house. Her husband Jim and her best friend Debbie are her only two connections with the outside world.
But one day, Jim doesn’t return home from work. The police have neither time nor interest to pursue the missing person case, so Laura takes the search in her own hands, with Debbie for help. She believes that her neighbours would be the best persons to help her, as all of them knew Jim well. Once the secrets start tumbling out, Laura is forced to ask herself if she even knew her husband.
The story comes to us mostly in Laura’s perspectives, using first person for the 1985 timeline and third person for the present.
Bookish Yays:
🌷 Laura turns agoraphobic after an attack in a dark street at night. The impact of the trauma and the fear of going out is written well. Her steps towards overcoming her phobia when she is worried about Jim, while a bit unrealistic for how quickly she could overcome her extreme phobia, still make her vulnerability clear.
🌷 Laura’s neighbourhood of Willow Crest has some interesting characters. Carol – a busybody with a heart of gold and her long-suffering husband Arthur were my favourite of these. (I am sure Ben also would be a favourite with many, but I found him too perfect to be believable.) Laura’s friend Debbie is also a great character, and their friendship was sweet, though it was clear that Laura was the taker and Debbie, the giver in their lopsided relationship.
🌷 The use of first person for Laura’s past and third person for the present timeline was an interesting writing choice. While this could have gone either way, I liked how the change in voice indicated the timeline instantly.
🌷 A good point raised in the plot was how emotions can manipulate us into mistaking control for love or gaslighting for guidance.
🌷 There are some thought-provoking lines.
Bookish Nays:
🌵 To my utter sadness, the blurb doesn’t indicate Laura’s alcohol addiction at all. I strongly dislike this trope, even though it didn’t lead to an unreliable narrator this time around. (The amount spent on alcohol consumption in this book would have fuelled the economy of a small town for a month!)
🌵 The “big secret” behind the disappearance is guessable the instant the first clue is revealed. So it was annoying to see how long everyone else took to guess the reason when the situation was so obvious. If you read this for some “mystery” feels, you will be disappointed.
🌵 There are so many silly things in the plot, I don’t know where to begin:
😒 If my husband went missing, trust me, the first place I will check for clues would not be with the neighbours but in his wardrobe and personal belongings. Who in their right mind would begin such searches asking neighbours for info? (Of course, in this novel, each neighbour conveniently has one useful clue to offer. So Laura’s method did work for her. Oh well!)
😒 Seven years of marriage, and yet Laura never been curious about why her husband is so secretive about his job? No matter how sheltered your childhood, surely common sense works at least once in seven years. Am I being too optimistic about human intelligence?
😒 Jim is the neighbourhood charmer, the good and helpful guy whom everyone likes. Yet, when some neighbours see Laura with Ben, their reaction is, ‘Oh, too bad she is married to Jim. They would make such a nice couple.” Come again!? Who makes such remarks about potential alternate “couplings” when one of the persons is already married to a supposedly loving and loveable man?
🌵 While a part of me empathised with Laura, I still struggled to connect with her character due to the illogical decisions she takes time and again, and her gullibility in not questioning Jim’s behaviour even once. Part of it could be attributed to being an aftermath of the attack, but that just accounts for the past eighteen months. There was no reason for her to be so naïve prior to that, especially as she had been living independently since age eighteen. (Laura is thirty-three during the main events, not exactly a babe in the woods.)
🌵 There is a whole load of info-dumping at the end.
🌵 Except for the mention of the years and the lack of the obvious technological advancements such as the internet and smartphones, there was nothing in the plot that made me feel like it was set thirty years ago. The years were just a convenient way of circumambulating around the internet factor, which would have made it easier to locate the MiA husband.
🚩Spoiler below:
This story could have been tremendous with such a strong premise, but the implementation was just disappointing.
I had first read this author’s “How to Save a Life” (now republished as “The Night We First Met”) last June and was blown away by how well she sketched characters. But the two books I have tried since have been just about okay. I might still read her works in future, but I will definitely not go out of my way to get to them.
Not a must-read as far as I am concerned. But mine is an outlier review, so do check out the other reviews before you take a call. If you can read with your heart and ignore the sirens in your head, do give this a try.
2 stars.
My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The World Outside My Window”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
June 8, 2023
3.5⭐️
It has been eighteen months since Laura Parks left her home. A chef employed at a restaurant in London, her life was upended after an attack by a masked assailant one night near her home left her traumatized and agoraphobic. Her husband Jim, hoping that a change of scene would help her heal, moves them from London to Willow Crest, a charming cul-de-sac outside London. While Jim begins to interact with their new neighbors, Laura remains at home, turning to alcohol and limiting her interactions to just her husband and best friend Debbie, unable to step outside her home and content to watch the world outside from her window. One day, her husband doesn’t return home from work and Laura begins to panic. When the hours turn into days and weeks and the police seem unable to track Jim’s whereabouts, Laura is compelled to step outside her home and ask for help. Jim had no close family and having never met any of Jim’s work associates, she turns to her neighbors for any clue as to Jim’s state of mind and where he could have gone. As each of her neighbors begins to share seemingly insignificant details of their interactions with Jim, Laura begins to realize that the man she was with for seven years, might not have been completely honest about who he was. Laura begins to face her fears, deal with her trauma and find out what happened to her husband, embarking on a journey of healing and self-awareness and in doing so takes the first steps toward emerging a stronger person.
I have mixed feelings about The World Outside My Window by Clare Swatman. I loved the premise of this novel and the cast of characters in Willow Crest, the found family theme and the way the author writes about relationships, friendship, isolation, trauma and mental health, emotional manipulation and vulnerability. I did feel sympathy for what Laura endured and how it affected her life and mental health. The author also gives us a glimpse into the complexities of relationships, emotional dependence and vulnerability and how some could misinterpret control and manipulation for love and protectiveness.
However, seven years is a long time to get to know a person and while I can’t fault her for her dependence post her traumatic experience, from what we gather from the narrative that moves back and forth detailing the beginning of their relationship and the events leading to the present day narrative, there were quite a few red flags that should have aroused her suspicions much earlier on. The depiction of this aspect of the story and Laura’s cluelessness were a tad unconvincing. Parts of the past narrative are shared in the first-person PoV from Laura’s perspective and the remaining in the third person, which doesn’t quite make for a fluid reading experience. The narrative moves in a predictable direction and the reveal is not surprising (plenty of breadcrumbs that make it rather easy to pick up on). Overall, while I was invested in Laura's journey and did enjoy parts of the story, I wasn’t as taken with it as I had hoped.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
It has been eighteen months since Laura Parks left her home. A chef employed at a restaurant in London, her life was upended after an attack by a masked assailant one night near her home left her traumatized and agoraphobic. Her husband Jim, hoping that a change of scene would help her heal, moves them from London to Willow Crest, a charming cul-de-sac outside London. While Jim begins to interact with their new neighbors, Laura remains at home, turning to alcohol and limiting her interactions to just her husband and best friend Debbie, unable to step outside her home and content to watch the world outside from her window. One day, her husband doesn’t return home from work and Laura begins to panic. When the hours turn into days and weeks and the police seem unable to track Jim’s whereabouts, Laura is compelled to step outside her home and ask for help. Jim had no close family and having never met any of Jim’s work associates, she turns to her neighbors for any clue as to Jim’s state of mind and where he could have gone. As each of her neighbors begins to share seemingly insignificant details of their interactions with Jim, Laura begins to realize that the man she was with for seven years, might not have been completely honest about who he was. Laura begins to face her fears, deal with her trauma and find out what happened to her husband, embarking on a journey of healing and self-awareness and in doing so takes the first steps toward emerging a stronger person.
I have mixed feelings about The World Outside My Window by Clare Swatman. I loved the premise of this novel and the cast of characters in Willow Crest, the found family theme and the way the author writes about relationships, friendship, isolation, trauma and mental health, emotional manipulation and vulnerability. I did feel sympathy for what Laura endured and how it affected her life and mental health. The author also gives us a glimpse into the complexities of relationships, emotional dependence and vulnerability and how some could misinterpret control and manipulation for love and protectiveness.
However, seven years is a long time to get to know a person and while I can’t fault her for her dependence post her traumatic experience, from what we gather from the narrative that moves back and forth detailing the beginning of their relationship and the events leading to the present day narrative, there were quite a few red flags that should have aroused her suspicions much earlier on. The depiction of this aspect of the story and Laura’s cluelessness were a tad unconvincing. Parts of the past narrative are shared in the first-person PoV from Laura’s perspective and the remaining in the third person, which doesn’t quite make for a fluid reading experience. The narrative moves in a predictable direction and the reveal is not surprising (plenty of breadcrumbs that make it rather easy to pick up on). Overall, while I was invested in Laura's journey and did enjoy parts of the story, I wasn’t as taken with it as I had hoped.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 26, 2025
A woman suffering from agoraphobia heavily relies on her husband for assistance.
One day, her husband disappears.
What happened?
From Chapter One, I was transfixed.
Yes, there were some eye-rolling moments.
What married woman is clueless about family bank accounts and where her husband works?
Overall, however, the book was compelling, unpredictable, and unputdownable.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Antonia Beamish.
Her narration was brilliant.
This is my second Clare Swatman book, and I am a fan.
4.5 stars.
November 1, 2023
I enjoyed this book about a woman who had agoraphobia after being attacked. She eventually starts going out a little bit at a time with the help of a good friend.
August 20, 2024
A waste of what could have been an amazing book.
I wanted a book that realistically explored trauma, healing and recovery but this isn't it. I felt like Laura's personal experiences and struggles were sidelined for the mystery of whatever happened to Jim (honestly, who cares?) and there was way too much focus on his disappearance.
Like I said, who cares about Jim? It was glaringly obvious what was going on and I guessed it from the start, so I find it hard to believe that Laura had no inkling at all. There were also often times when I wondered if I was reading a romance novel instead because of how significant the subplot was. I like Ben though, so not complaining.
The neighbours were wonderful and I loved the found family + community spirit. In fact, the synopsis gave me Fredrik Backman vibes and was the whole reason I read this book.
I just wish more time had been spent on developing each character individually and we got more details into their lives, instead of giving so much airtime to an underwhelming mystery and undeserving character. The revelation had zero surprise.
Truly it's a shame...
Thank you to Boldwood Books for Netgalley ARC.
Favourite quotes:
✨ "There were only so many times you could let someone down before they started to wonder whether you were worth fighting for."
✨ "Just make sure you're not mistaking security for love."
✨ "But ever since the attack she'd felt like a broken window, pieces of herself lying splintered and discarded on the ground, and as though booze is the only thing that can start to patch those pieces back together again, however ragged and makeshift the repair job is. Who cares if it's a temporary solution, if it helps for a few moments?"
✨ "What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I deal with things like a normal person? Why did I always have to panic, and drink to forget?"
I wanted a book that realistically explored trauma, healing and recovery but this isn't it. I felt like Laura's personal experiences and struggles were sidelined for the mystery of whatever happened to Jim (honestly, who cares?) and there was way too much focus on his disappearance.
Like I said, who cares about Jim? It was glaringly obvious what was going on and I guessed it from the start, so I find it hard to believe that Laura had no inkling at all. There were also often times when I wondered if I was reading a romance novel instead because of how significant the subplot was. I like Ben though, so not complaining.
The neighbours were wonderful and I loved the found family + community spirit. In fact, the synopsis gave me Fredrik Backman vibes and was the whole reason I read this book.
I just wish more time had been spent on developing each character individually and we got more details into their lives, instead of giving so much airtime to an underwhelming mystery and undeserving character. The revelation had zero surprise.
Truly it's a shame...
Thank you to Boldwood Books for Netgalley ARC.
Favourite quotes:
✨ "There were only so many times you could let someone down before they started to wonder whether you were worth fighting for."
✨ "Just make sure you're not mistaking security for love."
✨ "But ever since the attack she'd felt like a broken window, pieces of herself lying splintered and discarded on the ground, and as though booze is the only thing that can start to patch those pieces back together again, however ragged and makeshift the repair job is. Who cares if it's a temporary solution, if it helps for a few moments?"
✨ "What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I deal with things like a normal person? Why did I always have to panic, and drink to forget?"
June 14, 2023
In the summer of 1984 there weren’t e many female chefs, except for Laurie who worked at one of the top restaurants in London. This is where she meets the handsome but older Jim a man she would soon become obsessed with. Her lifelong best friend Debbie didn’t like him and thought there was something off about Jim but Laurie was in love and soon moved in together and eventually marry. Not long after a man tried to assault Laurie on her way home from work this cost her to not want to leave the flat at all, not to mention she started drinking a lot and Jim enabled all of it. He supported her so she could give in to her paranoia she soon starts getting prank phone calls and sees people watching her flat from the street. This is when he decided to move them to a cul-de-sac a little ways outside of London a place she would move into but not leave for months but when Jim doesn’t come home one night Laurie is beside herself with the worry when is the Spondin. When Debbie shows up she decides to come up with a plan. Jim had made friends with every one in the cul-de-sac and Debbie decides Lori should do the same so she could find out what happened to Jim. Lori learns it was only when her life ended but it truly began. I really loved this book and although I didn’t understand how Ben was attracted to an alcoholic agoraphobic I still love that he liked her warts and all. I really thought this was a good heartwarming story that I read all in one setting I have not read a book by Clare Swatman before but I will soon rectify that. I really love her writing style and definitely loved the The ending AN highly recommend this book. This is definitely woman fiction and not a thriller but OMG it was so good. I received this book from NetGalley but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes I am blind and dictate my review.
June 16, 2023
Following an attack outside her flat in London chef Laura has developed agoraphobia. Despite moving to the quiet suburbs with husband Jim she has not got any better and finds herself unable to leave her home.
With Jim working away in Leeds for half the week she is lonely and her reliance on him is putting a strain on their relationship. With her best friend Debs being her only visitor, and no other friends locally, she turns to alcohol to cope when she is alone. However, one week, when Jim doesn't return from Leeds, she is forced out of her comfort zone to try to find him. Could any of her neighbours help?
I really felt for Laura and couldn't put this book down as I wanted her to be ok. I worked out where the story was going quite early on, but it didnt stop me being drawn in. It covers some tricky subjects but is senstively written. An enjoyable read.
With Jim working away in Leeds for half the week she is lonely and her reliance on him is putting a strain on their relationship. With her best friend Debs being her only visitor, and no other friends locally, she turns to alcohol to cope when she is alone. However, one week, when Jim doesn't return from Leeds, she is forced out of her comfort zone to try to find him. Could any of her neighbours help?
I really felt for Laura and couldn't put this book down as I wanted her to be ok. I worked out where the story was going quite early on, but it didnt stop me being drawn in. It covers some tricky subjects but is senstively written. An enjoyable read.
October 24, 2024
Set in the late eighties and early nineties, we meet Laura Parks and her husband, Jim.
Ever since she was attacked on the way home one night, Laura is afraid to step outside. Even moving to the quiet Willow Cresent hasn't abated her fears. In fact, it's only worsened them.
Loyal Jim is trying his hardest to support Laura, but he works away from home most of the week. Despite Laura worshipping the ground her husband walks on, she's become secluded and lonely without any human contact. She doesn't even see her best friend, Debbie, much anymore.
For the past seven years, it's just been Laura and Jim, in their own little bubble. Laura simply can't live without him.
Then, one day, Jim simply doesn't come home.
With the police not being especially helpful, Laura must take matters into her own hands. With the support of Debbie, she bravely steps into the unknown to seek answers. What she finds is a community of neighbours willing to help at the drop of a hat. They're just concerned about Jim as she is.
However, every clue doesn't make any sense, and it becomes clear that Jim has something to hide. As time moves on and Laura begins to find herself again, she can't help but reflect on their relationship up to this point.
With newfound friends and a brighter future, would it necessarily be a bad thing if Jim was never found?
The World Outside My Window is the first book I've read from this author. Mental illness is portrayed especially well, as well as the journey to overcome such problems. Laura is an exceptional character and carries the story with undoubted strength. You can't help to cheer her on.
As for Jim... well, what an asshat. I guess that sums up everything that I hate about him.
It was so much fun getting to know the occupants of Willow Cresent. My absolute favourites had to be Jane and Ben. Oh, Ben. You're such a sweetie.
A heart-warming and emphatic read.
4.5 🌟
Ever since she was attacked on the way home one night, Laura is afraid to step outside. Even moving to the quiet Willow Cresent hasn't abated her fears. In fact, it's only worsened them.
Loyal Jim is trying his hardest to support Laura, but he works away from home most of the week. Despite Laura worshipping the ground her husband walks on, she's become secluded and lonely without any human contact. She doesn't even see her best friend, Debbie, much anymore.
For the past seven years, it's just been Laura and Jim, in their own little bubble. Laura simply can't live without him.
Then, one day, Jim simply doesn't come home.
With the police not being especially helpful, Laura must take matters into her own hands. With the support of Debbie, she bravely steps into the unknown to seek answers. What she finds is a community of neighbours willing to help at the drop of a hat. They're just concerned about Jim as she is.
However, every clue doesn't make any sense, and it becomes clear that Jim has something to hide. As time moves on and Laura begins to find herself again, she can't help but reflect on their relationship up to this point.
With newfound friends and a brighter future, would it necessarily be a bad thing if Jim was never found?
The World Outside My Window is the first book I've read from this author. Mental illness is portrayed especially well, as well as the journey to overcome such problems. Laura is an exceptional character and carries the story with undoubted strength. You can't help to cheer her on.
As for Jim... well, what an asshat. I guess that sums up everything that I hate about him.
It was so much fun getting to know the occupants of Willow Cresent. My absolute favourites had to be Jane and Ben. Oh, Ben. You're such a sweetie.
A heart-warming and emphatic read.
4.5 🌟
November 30, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
This was a super quick read and a great palate cleanser, but you have to suspend a lot of belief to get through it 🥴
The main protagonist was unbelievably naive and it was rather frustrating reading about her ignoring her husband’s many red flags, and the ‘twist’ of his disappearance was very predictable.
I enjoyed the found family aspect of it the most, but it was overall a below average read.
This was a super quick read and a great palate cleanser, but you have to suspend a lot of belief to get through it 🥴
The main protagonist was unbelievably naive and it was rather frustrating reading about her ignoring her husband’s many red flags, and the ‘twist’ of his disappearance was very predictable.
I enjoyed the found family aspect of it the most, but it was overall a below average read.
April 13, 2024
Predicable. Hard to finish.
May 12, 2023
TW: Assault, intense gaslighting, alcoholism
This book was much more mystery style than I thought it would be (especially based on the cover design). While mysteries aren’t my favorite genre, I was somewhat interested to see Laura’s story unfold and becoming familiar with all her neighbors in the process (my favorite part of the book). I do think it’s quite easy to figure out the ending and I wish there were more twists or a build up to the reveal at the end of the book.
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was much more mystery style than I thought it would be (especially based on the cover design). While mysteries aren’t my favorite genre, I was somewhat interested to see Laura’s story unfold and becoming familiar with all her neighbors in the process (my favorite part of the book). I do think it’s quite easy to figure out the ending and I wish there were more twists or a build up to the reveal at the end of the book.
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2023
While I had completely predicted the plot from the beginning, the journey was still engaging and enjoyable.
There was strong character development and lots of side characters to add to the story.
Laura and Jim have been together for seven years and have been living in the suburbs of London for the past several months after moving away from the city after Laura was assaulted and it left it with severe agoraphobia. Thankfully Jim is supportive and loving on his days at home-he works part of the week away from home-until one day, he leave for work and never comes back. Laura is faced with challenging herself to go outside and look for him as the police don’t seem too concerned. She calls upon her best friend and the neighbors she never had a chance to get to know before now to help uncover the mystery of her missing husband and in the process discovers just how strong she really is.
My only complaint, if you can even call it that, is that I would have liked to see Jim get what was coming to him. We don’t actually get the kind of final resolution there that I wish we could have. Other than that, this is a solid, read in one afternoon read.
There are several triggers-alcoholism, gaslighting, mental health
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
There was strong character development and lots of side characters to add to the story.
Laura and Jim have been together for seven years and have been living in the suburbs of London for the past several months after moving away from the city after Laura was assaulted and it left it with severe agoraphobia. Thankfully Jim is supportive and loving on his days at home-he works part of the week away from home-until one day, he leave for work and never comes back. Laura is faced with challenging herself to go outside and look for him as the police don’t seem too concerned. She calls upon her best friend and the neighbors she never had a chance to get to know before now to help uncover the mystery of her missing husband and in the process discovers just how strong she really is.
My only complaint, if you can even call it that, is that I would have liked to see Jim get what was coming to him. We don’t actually get the kind of final resolution there that I wish we could have. Other than that, this is a solid, read in one afternoon read.
There are several triggers-alcoholism, gaslighting, mental health
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
September 10, 2023
It was clear from the beginning what was happening, but I'm frustrated by the easy escape and pathetic explanation Jim gave.
He ran a double life, with a brutal damaging effect on the wives, dropped one of them suddenly and without a care, and his explanation was that he loved Laura, and his children.
Solution to the quandary of needing to be present for your children, but also loving another woman: bigamy.
The nonsense of a job that requires him to be away for 4 nights in a random northern city, with no ability to contact him. To not know a single person in his life. Laura was irritating in her uselessness. She was a head chef but accepted his ridiculous life without question.
Still writing review for my brother....
He ran a double life, with a brutal damaging effect on the wives, dropped one of them suddenly and without a care, and his explanation was that he loved Laura, and his children.
Solution to the quandary of needing to be present for your children, but also loving another woman: bigamy.
The nonsense of a job that requires him to be away for 4 nights in a random northern city, with no ability to contact him. To not know a single person in his life. Laura was irritating in her uselessness. She was a head chef but accepted his ridiculous life without question.
Still writing review for my brother....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2023
I went to this book without knowing much about it, but I knew the premise was good and different. And in reality it is. A person with an agoraphobia. A husband who disappears and she has to face the phobia to know what happened. The problem is that it was so predictable, so boring, so annoying at some parts. The best buts were just the fact that Laura managed to overcome her phobia and the end of the book. The rest was everything but what I was waiting for!
One last note: no one cares about Jim 😂
One last note: no one cares about Jim 😂
May 13, 2023
The World Outside My Window is a touching story about Laura who has agoraphobia and afraid to leave to her house due to a trauma she suffered. Laura spends her days gazing out of her window, relying on her husband Jim and her best friend for help that she needs. But then Jim goes missing and doesn't return home, making Laura having to start moving forward as she searches for answers on where Jim has gone. I loved Laura and seeing her start to live her life again. I kept wanting to keep reading, and see how she changes and grows. The characters were well developed, the plot was intriguing and had duel time lines that worked perfectly together.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Publishing for my ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Publishing for my ARC.
April 26, 2023
Summary: This book tells the story of Laura. Laura suffers from agoraphobia after a terrible incident in her life. She is confined to the walls of her home, watching the world pass her by outside her window. Luckily Laura is married to Jim who supports her and loves her but one day Jim doesn’t come home.
In the quest to find out what happened to Jim, Laura has to challenge herself and call upon the support of her best friend and neighbours to uncover the mystery and in doing so finds hidden strength she never knew she had.
Review:
This was a pacey, delightful read.
There was strong character development and the introduction of the side characters added to the story.
The friendship between Laura and Debbie was lovely to read and whole romance is a theme in the book; it is not at the forefront and the friendships and Laura’s self development took centre stage.
I found the moving between 1st person and 2nd person a bit jarring at first but grew used to it as the book went on.
I would have liked to see Jim really get his comeuppance
Overall this was a great, hopeful and lovely read
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, controlling relationships, alcohol misuse, mental health
In the quest to find out what happened to Jim, Laura has to challenge herself and call upon the support of her best friend and neighbours to uncover the mystery and in doing so finds hidden strength she never knew she had.
Review:
This was a pacey, delightful read.
There was strong character development and the introduction of the side characters added to the story.
The friendship between Laura and Debbie was lovely to read and whole romance is a theme in the book; it is not at the forefront and the friendships and Laura’s self development took centre stage.
I found the moving between 1st person and 2nd person a bit jarring at first but grew used to it as the book went on.
I would have liked to see Jim really get his comeuppance
Overall this was a great, hopeful and lovely read
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, controlling relationships, alcohol misuse, mental health
June 10, 2023
My heart went out to Laura, she'd gone through so much trauma already, being assaulted, her agoraphobia brought on by said attack, and now this...the person who vows he adores her, loves her doesn't come home...well not to her anyway. Jim sounded so perfect too, yet here he was living his best life with his gorgeous wife AND his other wife and kids...what an absolute 'bleep!'
I love Swatman's books, even though they're pretty good at making me cry.
I'm so happy that Laura found her happy ending with a man who was everything Jim wasn't. I guess we also need to thank Jim in a way, because without him, Laura would never have overcome the agoraphobia or found love.
A highly enjoyable, emotive read with wonderful, engaging characters, Jim doesn't count.
I love Swatman's books, even though they're pretty good at making me cry.
I'm so happy that Laura found her happy ending with a man who was everything Jim wasn't. I guess we also need to thank Jim in a way, because without him, Laura would never have overcome the agoraphobia or found love.
A highly enjoyable, emotive read with wonderful, engaging characters, Jim doesn't count.
June 5, 2023
thanks for the arc!
thank you to netgalley and boldwood books for this arc! i enjoyed the premise of this book, and it explored some heavy topics while still keeping them light. i felt like it wrapped up a little quickly and could've been drawn out a bit longer, but it's still a book i'd recommend!
thank you to netgalley and boldwood books for this arc! i enjoyed the premise of this book, and it explored some heavy topics while still keeping them light. i felt like it wrapped up a little quickly and could've been drawn out a bit longer, but it's still a book i'd recommend!
November 5, 2025
This book brought me out of my reading slump and made me want to keep picking it back up. Although easy to predict, I really felt for Laura and adopted her naive mindset while reading. Discovering her world with her and seeing her character growth was more of the focus for me.
October 3, 2024
It was just a little too predictable for me
March 11, 2025
Slow starting but once it picks up I couldn’t put it down! The ending was really sweet :)
March 20, 2025
Heartbreaking and so heart warming all at the same time. I thought the story was a bit predictable but enjoyed the way it was told.
September 1, 2025
2.5 ⭐ proved yet again that men suck
November 25, 2023
I would have liked the mystery of Jim missing to resolve much less obviously however I felt in the end that it didn’t matter because it didn’t take away from Laura’s beautifully heart warming journey which mattered far more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2024
3.5🌟 I loved the message of this book and the plot was really good, just would’ve liked a bit more to happen and for the agoraphobia to be explored more
April 21, 2024
I rolled my eyes SO FUCKING HARD during my reading of this book, it was actually ridiculous! Ok so I’m clearly an outlier based on the overall ratings and as my thing is bad reviews only, I should probably say why I hated this book.
1) pretty much everything about this story was utterly predictable. OF COURSE the husband was an utter shit bag- that much was clear all the way through to everyone, except Laura which brings me to…
2) Laura was such an unlikeable protagonist! So many times I wanted to shake her for being so pathetic it was unreal! She was an alcoholic for (to my eyes) no really valid reason; yes she was attacked but she was also in complete denial about everything and her default response TO EVERYTHING was to “pour a glass of vodka” (yuck yuck yuck; she didn’t even add anything to it- I might’ve given her some credit if she’d added a mixer but straight vodka is NASTY!!) She constantly went on about how bad her life was and yet did NOTHING to change it until Jim went missing- and even then, she “couldn’t do it on her own”; she had to be dragged by her best friend Debbie. For me, she also realised way too late in the game that Jim was the cause of most of her problems and yet she still had this weird hero like worship of him- love, he was never home! He was clearly lying to you and you couldn’t see it when it was quite literally staring you in the face!
I guess I like my females strong and with substance and Laura was utterly pathetic throughout 90% of the novel. At no point until Jim went missing did she question anything about her life with him. We’re led to believe she isn’t a moron, yet nothing about her shit bag husband was a red flag to her? She knew nothing about him in 7 years of marriage?! I grew up in the 90s and women were not as stupid as her! (Also you would never guess that it was set in the 90s as there’s no periodic type references anywhere)
Trigger warning: Her assault is barely described, but to be honest, the details we do get made me seriously question the degree of her traumatic response- it seemed unbelievable to me just how much of a wreck it left her; I mean she just quit her job, became the neediest woman in the world and spent her days drinking nonstop. She even had to be sedated when they moved?? I mean come on; people go through far worse and don’t have that kind of response so I just didn’t buy any of it. On the whole, it just made me dislike Laura even more for not getting her shit together like the grown ass woman she was; there’s nothing to indicate that she was weak before she met Jim but the author seems to forget that later on.
3) the ending; once Laura finds out what happened to Jim, we’re just supposed to believe that a woman who was confined to her house, FOR MONTHS, turned it all around in a matter of days because she found a new guy to f***? Another premise that I totally didn’t buy; based on what I’ve studied about PTSD and traumatic responses, you don’t make that sort of transition that quickly in reality, even if you have support, which leads me to conclude that Laura was playing for sympathy most of the time but masquerading as a trauma victim.
4) all the neighbours were utterly pointless; you could have removed any and all of them and it would not have affected the outcome of the story. The only purpose they served was to give Laura a clue to the puzzle of where Jim was and to be honest, she could have worked that all out without any of them so why were they there at all? Carol I actively wanted to punch for just how inappropriate she was during that neighbours meeting and the only reason I remember her is because she was mentioned more than once. I can’t recall anything about the rest of them yet the novel’s synopsis implies that they all have a much bigger role in the story. Spoiler alert; they don’t.
There’s so many other things I hated; the prose/narrative was so confusing to me- jumped between first and third persons for no clear reason except to indicate the past and the present (the author could have accomplished the same result in either one so why switch?). I can’t fathom why Ben (I’m not even sure that’s his name- it’s the neighbour she ends up with) was attracted to Laura because to me, there was nothing attractive about her so my only conclusion is that he likes his women weak and submissive. Debbie who was the only character I sort of liked ended up being a massive disappointment as well; she knew Laura was an alcoholic and yet there’s one scene where she and Laura get drunk!? Great best friend you are enabling a drunk!
Anyway, for me, this book is such a hard pass; I hated most things about it and suffice to say, I won’t be checking out anything else by this author as several reviews have said this is her best work- if that’s the case, then I’ll go back to my usual crime thrillers.
1) pretty much everything about this story was utterly predictable. OF COURSE the husband was an utter shit bag- that much was clear all the way through to everyone, except Laura which brings me to…
2) Laura was such an unlikeable protagonist! So many times I wanted to shake her for being so pathetic it was unreal! She was an alcoholic for (to my eyes) no really valid reason; yes she was attacked but she was also in complete denial about everything and her default response TO EVERYTHING was to “pour a glass of vodka” (yuck yuck yuck; she didn’t even add anything to it- I might’ve given her some credit if she’d added a mixer but straight vodka is NASTY!!) She constantly went on about how bad her life was and yet did NOTHING to change it until Jim went missing- and even then, she “couldn’t do it on her own”; she had to be dragged by her best friend Debbie. For me, she also realised way too late in the game that Jim was the cause of most of her problems and yet she still had this weird hero like worship of him- love, he was never home! He was clearly lying to you and you couldn’t see it when it was quite literally staring you in the face!
I guess I like my females strong and with substance and Laura was utterly pathetic throughout 90% of the novel. At no point until Jim went missing did she question anything about her life with him. We’re led to believe she isn’t a moron, yet nothing about her shit bag husband was a red flag to her? She knew nothing about him in 7 years of marriage?! I grew up in the 90s and women were not as stupid as her! (Also you would never guess that it was set in the 90s as there’s no periodic type references anywhere)
Trigger warning: Her assault is barely described, but to be honest, the details we do get made me seriously question the degree of her traumatic response- it seemed unbelievable to me just how much of a wreck it left her; I mean she just quit her job, became the neediest woman in the world and spent her days drinking nonstop. She even had to be sedated when they moved?? I mean come on; people go through far worse and don’t have that kind of response so I just didn’t buy any of it. On the whole, it just made me dislike Laura even more for not getting her shit together like the grown ass woman she was; there’s nothing to indicate that she was weak before she met Jim but the author seems to forget that later on.
3) the ending; once Laura finds out what happened to Jim, we’re just supposed to believe that a woman who was confined to her house, FOR MONTHS, turned it all around in a matter of days because she found a new guy to f***? Another premise that I totally didn’t buy; based on what I’ve studied about PTSD and traumatic responses, you don’t make that sort of transition that quickly in reality, even if you have support, which leads me to conclude that Laura was playing for sympathy most of the time but masquerading as a trauma victim.
4) all the neighbours were utterly pointless; you could have removed any and all of them and it would not have affected the outcome of the story. The only purpose they served was to give Laura a clue to the puzzle of where Jim was and to be honest, she could have worked that all out without any of them so why were they there at all? Carol I actively wanted to punch for just how inappropriate she was during that neighbours meeting and the only reason I remember her is because she was mentioned more than once. I can’t recall anything about the rest of them yet the novel’s synopsis implies that they all have a much bigger role in the story. Spoiler alert; they don’t.
There’s so many other things I hated; the prose/narrative was so confusing to me- jumped between first and third persons for no clear reason except to indicate the past and the present (the author could have accomplished the same result in either one so why switch?). I can’t fathom why Ben (I’m not even sure that’s his name- it’s the neighbour she ends up with) was attracted to Laura because to me, there was nothing attractive about her so my only conclusion is that he likes his women weak and submissive. Debbie who was the only character I sort of liked ended up being a massive disappointment as well; she knew Laura was an alcoholic and yet there’s one scene where she and Laura get drunk!? Great best friend you are enabling a drunk!
Anyway, for me, this book is such a hard pass; I hated most things about it and suffice to say, I won’t be checking out anything else by this author as several reviews have said this is her best work- if that’s the case, then I’ll go back to my usual crime thrillers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2023
The World Outside My Window written by Clare Swatman had so much potential, but it just fell flat for me. The synopsis sounded interesting, but the one thing it failed to mention was the main characters alcohol addiction, I feel like this can be triggering for some readers, and yet it wasn't mentioned, which is a big no no for me. This book started out pretty strong, I had no clue which direction it would take, but halfway through it didn't leave me feeling surprised anymore, it just felt forced. The "big secret" behind the disappearance of Laura's husband was pretty easy to determine with the clues that were given. At first, it felt like this book was a mystery, but then the mystery part just disappeared, so if you're looking for a mystery, this book isn't for you. The cover really threw me for a loop, it doesn't really show the struggles Laura is facing, but it's still a pretty cover. Despite not liking this book, I will definitely check out this author's other works, but for right now, it's a no for me on this one. Alcohol addiction is a big topic, but it wasn't portrayed that way in this book, the main character basically just drank herself drunk to sleep every night. Don't let this review stop you in anyway, it just wasn't for me.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BOLDWOOD BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
Laura suffers from agoraphobic after an attack on a dark alley right by her house. The steps Laura took to overcome this extreme phobia were a bit unrealistic for me because she breezed right through it as if it didn't actually traumatize her. Laura sits by her window and watches the world go by without her. Terrified to leave her house because of this attack, Laura is just stuck staring out her window, relying on her husband, Jim and her best friend, Debbie for help. One day, Jim doesn't come home, then it turns into two days, then two days turn into a week, and there's still no sign of Jim anywhere. Laura decides to call the police for help, but they don't really help her. Laura is forced to make a decision, she's going to have to face the world outside and find Jim herself. Laura hasn't realized that Willow Crescent, the community she lives in is eager to help her find Jim. Laura and Debbie had such a sweet friendship, but there's things that irked me about it. It felt like it was a one sided friendship at times.
Debbie was so sweet and kind hearted to help Laura overcome her fears, but I felt like Laura took those gestures for granted, just so she could drink again. Debbie was so willing to take the time out of her day to help her best friend, but it felt like Laura had nothing to give back, it almost felt like Debbie was the giver and Laura was the taker. I absolutely adored some of the side characters in this little community like Carol, she was definitely a busybody, but she had the heart of a diamond. Ben was another character I liked, he's a widower who knows what it's like to be lonely without your significant other, but it was like he was almost too perfect to be real. Despite how fast Laura overcame her trauma, it still made her vulnerable, but I just felt no connection to her, so it was kind of hard for me to actually like her character. The writing style was definitely different from what I normally read, but it was interesting. I saw the "big secret" coming, so it wasn't really a surprise for me, I just wish Laura would have put down the alcohol and opened her eyes way sooner than when she had.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BOLDWOOD BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
Laura suffers from agoraphobic after an attack on a dark alley right by her house. The steps Laura took to overcome this extreme phobia were a bit unrealistic for me because she breezed right through it as if it didn't actually traumatize her. Laura sits by her window and watches the world go by without her. Terrified to leave her house because of this attack, Laura is just stuck staring out her window, relying on her husband, Jim and her best friend, Debbie for help. One day, Jim doesn't come home, then it turns into two days, then two days turn into a week, and there's still no sign of Jim anywhere. Laura decides to call the police for help, but they don't really help her. Laura is forced to make a decision, she's going to have to face the world outside and find Jim herself. Laura hasn't realized that Willow Crescent, the community she lives in is eager to help her find Jim. Laura and Debbie had such a sweet friendship, but there's things that irked me about it. It felt like it was a one sided friendship at times.
Debbie was so sweet and kind hearted to help Laura overcome her fears, but I felt like Laura took those gestures for granted, just so she could drink again. Debbie was so willing to take the time out of her day to help her best friend, but it felt like Laura had nothing to give back, it almost felt like Debbie was the giver and Laura was the taker. I absolutely adored some of the side characters in this little community like Carol, she was definitely a busybody, but she had the heart of a diamond. Ben was another character I liked, he's a widower who knows what it's like to be lonely without your significant other, but it was like he was almost too perfect to be real. Despite how fast Laura overcame her trauma, it still made her vulnerable, but I just felt no connection to her, so it was kind of hard for me to actually like her character. The writing style was definitely different from what I normally read, but it was interesting. I saw the "big secret" coming, so it wasn't really a surprise for me, I just wish Laura would have put down the alcohol and opened her eyes way sooner than when she had.
June 5, 2023
My goodness, what a wonderful read – I read it in a single sitting, entirely caught up in Laura’s desperate predicament, attempting to overcome her issues and connect with neighbours when her husband Jim suddenly and inexplicably disappears. My only small quibble is the publishers calling this one the author’s tour de force – that rather implies that she’ll never write anything better and, given that her every new book is better than the one that went before, I’m quite certain there will be many more superb reads like this one to come.
It’s some years since Laura has stepped outside her home, following an attack when returning at night from her job as a chef in a prestigious London restaurant. Increasingly fearful of the outside world, her anxiety has made her agoraphobic – and, cut off from the world and propped up by her alcohol deliveries, she’s entirely dependant on her husband Jim for her survival. When she became convinced there was someone watching the house, he agreed to them moving to a quieter neighbourhood – but, if anything, that only increased her isolation, living among people she doesn’t know. Now at a distance, only one supportive friend remains, the wonderful Debbie – and when Jim doesn’t come home one night, and his absence continues, that’s who she first turns to in an attempt to find him. But the effort has to be hers too – Jim was friendly with some of their neighbours, and they might just hold the clue to where he might be. So, with Debbie’s support and drawing on every reserve of bravery she can find, she sets about connecting with those individuals she’s never even met – and finds a network of individuals only too happy to recognise her bravery and desperation, offering her their help.
This book really isn’t so much about the mystery of Jim’s disappearance – you might well draw your own conclusions fairly early on, as I did, and you might just be right. It’s far more about Laura’s increasing strength and bravery, and the painfully slow transformation of her life of isolation – and the interventions of the diverse and quite wonderful group of individuals who were always there, just outside her window. It’s a book you feel rather than just read, but it’s not all traumatic – there’s a particular welcome and warmth just waiting out there for her, the wider cast of characters just so wonderfully drawn. Arthur and Carole next door might be archetypal nosy neighbours, but with hearts of pure gold – and widower Ben, who’s been through plenty of trauma of his own and perhaps understands her better than most, provides much needed practical and emotional support.
Emotionally, this book is particularly intense. I loved Laura from the book’s beginning, felt deeply for her, and really appreciated the insights into her pre-isolation life and the development of her relationship with Jim. Her journey into isolation is entirely believable, understandable, and so sensitively built and handled. And every step she later takes outside her front door is acutely painful – the author vividly captures her experiences, making every moment of approaching panic hurt and the reader’s heart beat almost as fast as hers does. As she makes slow progress – and I found myself cheering every small win with tears in my eyes, the friendships and the way they helped build her courage especially moving – the author really made me present in every moment. And that included those moments when it became possible to smile, even laugh a little – once the mystery of Jim’s disappearance is finally resolved, this really is one of the most joyous and uplifting and books I’ve read in a long time.
This book was everything I could have possibly wanted it to be – so emotionally engaging, a compelling story, and an extraordinary portrayal of trauma and recovery. Unforgettable, and without question one of my books of the year – one that really should be on everyone’s reading list.
It’s some years since Laura has stepped outside her home, following an attack when returning at night from her job as a chef in a prestigious London restaurant. Increasingly fearful of the outside world, her anxiety has made her agoraphobic – and, cut off from the world and propped up by her alcohol deliveries, she’s entirely dependant on her husband Jim for her survival. When she became convinced there was someone watching the house, he agreed to them moving to a quieter neighbourhood – but, if anything, that only increased her isolation, living among people she doesn’t know. Now at a distance, only one supportive friend remains, the wonderful Debbie – and when Jim doesn’t come home one night, and his absence continues, that’s who she first turns to in an attempt to find him. But the effort has to be hers too – Jim was friendly with some of their neighbours, and they might just hold the clue to where he might be. So, with Debbie’s support and drawing on every reserve of bravery she can find, she sets about connecting with those individuals she’s never even met – and finds a network of individuals only too happy to recognise her bravery and desperation, offering her their help.
This book really isn’t so much about the mystery of Jim’s disappearance – you might well draw your own conclusions fairly early on, as I did, and you might just be right. It’s far more about Laura’s increasing strength and bravery, and the painfully slow transformation of her life of isolation – and the interventions of the diverse and quite wonderful group of individuals who were always there, just outside her window. It’s a book you feel rather than just read, but it’s not all traumatic – there’s a particular welcome and warmth just waiting out there for her, the wider cast of characters just so wonderfully drawn. Arthur and Carole next door might be archetypal nosy neighbours, but with hearts of pure gold – and widower Ben, who’s been through plenty of trauma of his own and perhaps understands her better than most, provides much needed practical and emotional support.
Emotionally, this book is particularly intense. I loved Laura from the book’s beginning, felt deeply for her, and really appreciated the insights into her pre-isolation life and the development of her relationship with Jim. Her journey into isolation is entirely believable, understandable, and so sensitively built and handled. And every step she later takes outside her front door is acutely painful – the author vividly captures her experiences, making every moment of approaching panic hurt and the reader’s heart beat almost as fast as hers does. As she makes slow progress – and I found myself cheering every small win with tears in my eyes, the friendships and the way they helped build her courage especially moving – the author really made me present in every moment. And that included those moments when it became possible to smile, even laugh a little – once the mystery of Jim’s disappearance is finally resolved, this really is one of the most joyous and uplifting and books I’ve read in a long time.
This book was everything I could have possibly wanted it to be – so emotionally engaging, a compelling story, and an extraordinary portrayal of trauma and recovery. Unforgettable, and without question one of my books of the year – one that really should be on everyone’s reading list.
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